Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab vs GWM Steed 5

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab

4.0 V6 Double Cab MT Petrol Manual
ZAR 870,000 ex-showroom
VS
GWM Steed 5 in South Africa

GWM Steed 5

2.0VGT Single Cab S 2WD 6MT Diesel Manual
ZAR 307,950 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Steed 5
Fuel Economy Steed 5
🛡 Safety Steed 5
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab
🔑 Ownership Steed 5
Steed 5 starts ZAR 801000 cheaper Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab from ZAR 801,000 · Steed 5 from ZAR 307,950

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab Steed 5
Engine Power - 110
Torque - 320
Engine Size - Not Applicable
Claimed Mileage - Not Applicable
Ground Clearance - 194 mm
Boot Space - Not Applicable
Airbags - 2 front airbags
Kerb Weight - Not Applicable
Seating Capacity - 2
Warranty - 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Steed 5 has a slight advantage, but Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Steed 5 +5 pts
Efficiency Steed 5 +15 pts
Safety Steed 5 +18 pts
Practicality Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab +2 pts
Ownership Steed 5 +15 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Steed 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Steed 5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab Steed 5
Model Introduced Year - Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation - Current South African Steed 5 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History - Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since - Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending - Current
Body Style - Single-cab pickup
Body Type Cab - Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0VGT Single Cab S 2WD 6MT
Model Year - 2026
Production Status - published
Segment - Pickup
Vehicle Type - Pickup
Spec Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab Steed 5
Ground Clearance - 194 mm
Wheelbase - 3050 mm
Length - 5095 mm
Width - 1800 mm
Height - 1730 mm
Kerb Weight - Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight - Not Applicable
Seating Capacity - 2
Boot Space - Not Applicable
Towing Capacity - Not Applicable
Front Track Width - Not Applicable
Rear Track Width - Not Applicable
Turning Radius - Not Applicable
Load Bed Length - Not Applicable
Load Bed Width - Not Applicable
Front Legroom - Not Applicable
Rear Legroom - Not Applicable
Front Headroom - Not Applicable
Rear Headroom - Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room - Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room - Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded - Not Applicable
Number of Doors - 2
Max Payload - Not Applicable
Boot Volume - Not Applicable
Doors - 2
Seats - 2
Fuel Tank Capacity - Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg - Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max - 194 mm
Ground Clearance Min - 194 mm
Ground Clearance Mm - 194 mm
Height Mm - 1730 mm
Length Mm - 5095 mm
Loadbox Length Mm - Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm - Not Applicable
Payload Kg - Not Applicable
Cargo Volume - Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg - Not Applicable
Turning Circle - Not Applicable
Turning Circle M - Not Applicable
Width Mm - 1800 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Steed 5 leads by 10 points

Steed 5 has a slight advantage, but Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab remains highly competitive.

Winner 49 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 67% confidence
49
#1 Winner

Steed 5

67% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 65 Check Safety 18
Performance 55
Efficiency 65
Safety 18
Practicality 48
Ownership 65
Leads by 10 points
39
#2

Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Steed 5 +5 Efficiency Steed 5 +15 Safety Steed 5 +18 Practicality Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab +2 Ownership Steed 5 +15

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Steed 5

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 18/100
Practicality 48/100
Ownership 65/100

Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Steed 5 wins with 49 pts vs 39 pts for Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab

In structured scoring, Steed 5 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Steed 5 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab 50 vs Steed 5 65. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab 0, Steed 5 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab 50, Steed 5 65. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab 50, Steed 5 48. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab 50, Steed 5 55. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Steed 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Steed 5 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab and Steed 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab scores 50 vs 55.

Efficiency: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab scores 50 vs 65.

Safety: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab scores 0 vs 18.

Practicality: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab scores 50 vs 48.

Ownership: Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab scores 50 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Steed 5 the advantage in this comparison.